Communication infrastructure:

Shakti Singh
Sep 9, 2018 · 2 min read

As per Choudrie, the advancing information and communication technology has been able to bring major transformations and innovations across the world in last two decades (Choudrie & Middleton 2013, pp.1). Our daily lives are dependent upon how well we get the access to internet data. Even a slight difference in data speed can cause difference in our mood and behaviour.

Zimmerman defines media ecology as “an interdisciplinary field studying the intersections between media, communication, technology, and culture, and enjoys a rich tradition of examining biases in media technologies.”

Zimmerman also puts light on the concept of technology bias, an important aspect of media ecology and communication infrastructure. While it’s a common perception that technology is shape with an aim to reach precision and efficiency, the author argues that shaping a technology is largely driven by biases. (Zimmerman 2015,pp. 2)

As per ‘embodied’ theory, technologies are designed “as per reflection of the biases of their inventors” (Zimmerman 2015,pp. 2). While as per Exogenous Theory “technological bias emerges as a result of the social shaping of the technology, often beyond the influence or control of the original designer” (Zimmerman 2015,pp. 3)

Coming down to relating the above two theories two the recent issue of ‘Facebook’s Free Basics platform which waseffectively banned in India.’

It was meant to be a system where “facebook decides what parts of the internet are important to users” (Medium 2015). In a way India’s internet usage was going to be ‘facebook-biased’. Introducing net neutrality in India was neither driven by the inventor (embodied theory) nor by the society (exogenous theory). Hence the idea was not accepted by the government and was criticised by the citizens.

References

Choudrie, J & Middleton, C 2013, ‘Management of Broadband Technology and Innovation: Policy’, De Taylor and Francis, Hoboken

Zimmer, M 2005, ‘Media Ecology and Value Sensitive Design: A Combined Approach to Understanding the Biases of Media Technology’, Proceedings of the Media Ecology Association, Volume 6, pp. 1–15

Shiva, V 2015, ‘Free Basics will take away more than our right to the internet’, Medium, < https://medium.com/@drvandanashiva/free-basics-will-take-away-more-than-our-right-to-the-internet-4d39422fe122>